Armature assembling machine



Oct. 3, 1944.

L. E. POOLE ETAL ARMATURE ASSEMBLING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 20, 1940 MOW m0- aaaa Oct. 3, 1944. Y POOLE ET 2,359,384

ARMATURE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 20, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 7; INVENTCR a Loan 5. Po BY ERNEST R.FAU55ET ATTORN EYS 1944- L. POOLE ET AL 2,359,384

ARMATURE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 20, 1940' 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 N Fig.6.

mvzngom BY. fM

%, ATTORNEYA,

Oct. 3, 1944. L. E. POOLE ET AL ARMATURE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 20, 1940 a Shets-Sheet 7 Maw/Q 534,

7 ATTORNEY,

1944- E. POOLE ET AL 2,359,384

ARMATURE AS SEMBLING MACHINE Original Filed NOV. 20, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 H412 IDIIV Fo e 07mm 'ATTORNEY/ of the armature core.

Patented Oct. 3, 1944 ARMATURE ASSEMBLING MACHINE Lora E. Poole and Ernest R. Fausset, Anderson,

Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation,

Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Original application November 20, 1940, Serial No. 366,456, now Patent No. 2,290,381, dated July 21, 1942. Divided and this application January 23, 1942, Serial No. 427,910

9' Claims. (01. 214-1 This invention relates to the manufacture of bar wound a-rmatures for dynamoelectric machines and, more particularly to machines for assembling armatures for electric motors for starting internal combustion engines on automotive vehicles. Such armatures-are provided with single turn armature coils each coil having two straight parallel coil sides or active portions joined by an intermediate yoke so shaped that one active coil side will occupy a portion of the armature core slot adjacent to the bottom of the slot while the other coil side occupies a portion of another slot adjacent to the periphery An armature coil of this type will be designated hereinafter as a hairpin on account of its resemblance to the ordinary hairpin.

The present invention is concerned with a method by which all of the hairpins required for any particular armature assembly can be assembled simultaneously with an armature core by effecting relative longitudinal movement between the hairpins. and the core, the legs of the hairpins passing endwise through the slots of the core. The hairpins are first assembled in an annular row with one leg of each hairpin disposed in an inner annular row conforming to the location of the inner or bottom portionof the core slots. The other legs of the hair pins are located in an outer annular row remote from the inner row. In this preliminary arrangement of the hairpins in an annular row, the hairpin yokes are spaced apart circumferentially. This arrangement permits placing the hairpins one at a time in this annular row since the hairpin yokes do not touch and therefore are not nested one within the other as they will be later on in the final assembly. The next step is to move all of the hairpin legs in the outer row simultaneously toward the inner row so as to bring all of these legs in the outer row into an annular row conforming to the locations of the outer portions of the armature core slots. During this movement of the outer row of hairpin legs, the other row of hairpin legs remain in the annular row in which they were first placed. The operation ofmoving the outer annular row of hairpin legs inwardly will be known hereafter as gathering. During this gathering operation the hairpin yokes become nested one within the other. The next step is to clamp the hairpins in the gathered position to a transferring device by which the entire group of hairpins is moved from the gathering device into alignment with a slotted armature core. Then relative longitudinal movement is effected between the armature core and the group of hairpins thereby causing all of the hairpin legs to be passed endwise into core slots, each slot receiving two hairpin legs.

A machine by which the method referred to can be practiced with great facility is described and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 366,456, filed November 20, 1940, now Patent No. 2,290,381, granted July 21, 1942, of which this present application is a division. This machine comprises a magazine having a chute to which the hairpins are delivered by a conveyor from a hairpin forming machine. The magazine is provided with a feed mechanism which discharges the hairpins singly to a gatherer which arranges a predetermined number of them for simultaneous endwise entry into the slots of the armature core. The gatherer cooperates with a transfer head having fingers for clamping the hairpin legs in the positions in which they are finally located by the gatherer. The transfer head is movable from the gatherer to the assembler in order to locate the hairpin legs in alignment with the slots of the armature core. The assembler effects relative longitudinal movement between the core and the group of hairpins while retracting the clamping fingers after the hairpin legs have been entered into the core slots.

In this present application we describe and claim per se the magazine and feed mechanism which forms a part of the machine of our application Serial No. 366,456.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine looking to the front and left side.

7 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the magazine in lower position. This View is taken from a position at the right side of the machine looking diagonally from the rear toward the front of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2

showing the magazine in upper position in order Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary side elevation of the right hand magazine unit which is shown in perspective in Fig. 2. In this view certain parts are shown in section for sake of clearness.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the magazine shown in Fig. 6 and is a view taken in the direction of the arrow ID of Fig. 6. In Figs. 6 and '7 the feed slide is up.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line H-| l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line l2--l2 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the magazine with the feed slide down, and parts in section are taken generally on the line I3-S3 of Fig. 7 but it will be understood that in Fig. 16 the feed slide is down whereas in Fig. 7 the slide Figs, 11 and 12 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines |4-l4 and l-5l5 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow l6 of Fig. 6; and the sectional parts are taken on the lines l6a-l6a and l6b-l6b of Fig. 6.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevational View looking in the direction of arrow I! of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 shows a vertical sectional View of a pneumatic latch associated with the hairpin chute.

Figs, 16 and 17 are sectional views taken respectively, on the lines I 9-I9 and 2020 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 18 is partly a sectional view through the magazine chute showing the relation thereto of a photoelectric cell which controls the press which forms the hair pins supplied to the magazine. Fig. 18 includes a diagram of the press and the conveyor from the press to the magazine.

General construction Referring to Fig. 1, the machine comprises a base casting A supporting a back pedestal B in the form of a rectangular box. Pedestal B has a depth horizontally about one-half of the depth of the base A and a horizontal width approximately the same as the width of the base A as viewed from the front of the machine. Pedestal B supports a table C. Table C supports a portion of a conveyor mechanism D which delivers hairpins H to a chute E leading into a magazine F. The hairpins H are removed one at a time by a feed mechanism G and are caused to descend one at a time through a transfer head K and into a gatherer J. There are two sets of elements F, G, J and K, one on the right side of the machine and the other on the left. Each magazine F is supported by a pedestal L, in turn supported by a plate M carried by a frame N. There are two frames 0 each providing a pivotal support for a transfer head K. Between the two frames 0 is located a pedestal P providing a support for the upper part of the assembling mechanism designated as Q. The lower part of the assembler, designated as R, is supported by the table C.

Each gatherer J is operated by pistons cooperating with hydraulic cylinders S and T. The assembling apparatus R carried by table C is operated by a piston cooperating with a hydraulic cylinder U. The two cylinders S, the two cylinders T and the cylinder U and controls associated therewith are located between the base A and the table C in the front of the machine as shown in Fig. 1. The pedestal P supports a cylinder V cooperating with a piston for operating the upper portion Q of the assembling apparatus. As viewed in Figs. 6 and 13, each plate M supports a a cylinder W for raising and lowering a magazine F.

The front edge of the table C is supported by rods X connected with the base A. The table C is supported also by pedestals Y and Z.

Magazine F Referring to Fig. 6, the pedestal L provides ways 50 which guide for vertical sliding movement the magazine unit F. More particularly the ways 50 support a frame 5| having integral brackets 52 supporting a table 53 which is attached to the upper end of a piston rod 54 connected with a piston in the cylinder W which is attached to plate M mounted on frame N. (Fig. 13.) To the table 53 is attached a plate 56 welded to a plate 51 (Fig. 10). Plate 56 supports a pedestal 58. Plate 51 supports a pedestal 59. Pedestals 58 and 59 support a chute 60 for supporting a plurality of hairpins H as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. From the chute 60, the hairpins H are discharged singly by a feed mechanism G to be described. The yoke portions H3 of each hairpin H rest upon a rib 6| or flange extending from the chute 60, the legs or branches Hi and H2 of the hairpins extending downwardly along the sides of the chute 60. The hairpins are retained in proper position due to the fact that the yoke portions H3 are required to slide between pairs of rods, each pair comprising a rod 52 and'a rod 63. The rods 63 are supported directly by the chute 66. The rods 62 are welded to a cross member 64 having threaded ends 65 received by notches 66 in brackets 61a and 61b. The brackets 61a are attached to the pedestal 58. The brackets 61b are attached to the plate 56. The cross members 64 are notched at 64a to provide clearance for the uppermost portion of each hairpin yoke H3.

The chute 60 is an extension of an inclined bar E or chute 'Hl upon the upper end of which the conveyor D deposits hairpins Has shown in Fig. 1. The moving part of the conveyor D comprises a chain H having spaced lugs 12. From each lug 12 there extends a pin 13 which'pushes a hairpin upwardly along a track T4 and then around a curved track 1'5 which is an extension of the chute E or 10. The chain H passes around suitable sprocket wheels indicated at 16. The sprocket 16 is mounted on a shaft journalled in a bearing 71 mounted on a plate T8 welded to the juncture of frames '19 and 86. The lower end of frame 19, not shown, is supported on the floor adjacent to the discharge chute from the hairpin forming press HP in Fig, 18. Itwill be understood that the hairpins are discharged from press HPwith yoke foremost so th'at'the hairpins will be conveyed upwardly on the conveyor track 14 V and'then down along the chutes -H1 and 60 in the retard the descent of the hairpins along the chute 60. As shown in Fig. 10'the hairpin next to the lowest one is located adjacent the finger portion 92 of a lever 93 pivoted at "94 upon a fixed bracket 95. Lever 93 is normally urged clockwise by spring 96 so that normally the finger 92 engages the yoke of said hairpin. In this figure the descent of the lowest hairpin is obstructed by a feed bar 91 which is received by grooves 98 provided by a plate 99 to which plates I are attached as shown in Fig, 13 thereby providing ways for guiding the bar 91. Bar 91 is a part of the hairpin feed mechanism G. The way plates I00 support the brackets 95 which support the shaft 94 carrying the lever 93. The plate 99 is fixed to brackets WI and I02 attached to the frame I. Bar 91 supports a block I04 received by a notch I05 in the block 90. Bar 91 is attached to a cam block I06, the lower edge of which is beveled at I01 to engage the beveled upper edge I08 of a lever I09 pivoted upon a rod II 0 supported between ears III provided by a plate H2. The plate II 2 is pivotally attached to the plate 99 by screws II3. Plate II2 supports at its lower end a block II4 attached by II5. Block II4 supports rods H6 attached to a plate II1 adapted to be engaged by the lower end II8 of a lever I09. The rods II6 are adapted to engage a block I attached by dowel pins I2I and a screw I22 to the downwardly extending flange I23 of a plate I24 which moves horizontally along the underside of the plate 51 and is guided for such movement by a block I25 having a notch for receiving the plate I24. Block I25 is secured to plate 51 by screws I26. The block I20 is normally urged against the block II4 by springs I21 as shown in Fig. 9. Block I20 is provided with a recess I for receiving the hairpin yoke Hz and with notched lugs I3I each for receiving a hairpin leg H1 or H2.

The plate H2 is retained normally in vertical alignment with the plate 99 by means of a latch comprising a latch lever I (Fig. 6) pivoted upon a screw I4I attached to plate 51. Lever I40 has a notch I42 for receiving a pin I43 on plate IIZ. A spring I44 urges the lever I40 counterclockwise so that the lever notch I42 normally receives the pin I43 thus latching the plate H2 in operating position. If a hairpin should jam between the block 90 and the plate II2 the lever I40 can be retracted from the pin I43 and the plate II2 moved away from the block 90 into a horizontal position until a stud I45 carried by the plate H2 is received by a notch I46 in a latching lever I41 pivoted at I48 upon a bracket I49 carried by plate 99. Lever I41 has a knob I41a which serves as a weight tending to urge the lever I41 counterclockwise. Therefore, when the plate II2 has been brought into a horizontal position, the stud I45 will strike the lever I41 and cam it clockwise until the stud I45 comes into alignment with the notch I46, whereupon the weight of the knob I41a will cause the lever I41 to move counterclockwise to hold the plate H2 in the horizontal position. To release the plate H2 in order that it may be restored to vertical position, the operator pushes upon the knob I41a whereupon the plate H2 is released and it descends and causes the rod I43 to strike the lower edge of the lever I40 and cam the same upwardly against the action of the spring I44 until the plate H2 is in the normal vertical position, whereupon its rod I43 registers with the notch I42 of lever I40 and lever I40 returns to latching position under the action of the spring I44.

The feed bar 91 is provided near its upper end with a pair of lugs I50 supporting a rod I5I attached to a notched lug I52 which together with a plate I53 are attached to the lower threaded end of a turn buckle I54 having its upper end threaded into a notched block I55 carrying a pin I56 by which the block is attached to a lever or walking beam I51 pivoted at I58 upon the plate 5|. Lever I 51 is connected by a pin I59 with a link I60 connected by a pin I6I with a crank disc I62 mounted on a shaft I63 journalled in a bearing I64 provided by a bearing bracket I65 integral with the plate 5|. Shaft I63 carries a bevel gear I66 meshing with a bevel gear I61 connected with a vertically disposed shaft I68 journalled in a bearing bracket I69 also integral with the plate 5I. Shaft I68 is connected by a coupling I10 with a shaft section I1I longitudinally splinedly connected with a shaft sleeve I12 keyed at I13 to a shaft section I14 journalled in a bearing I15 provided by pedestal L and in a bearing I16 provided by table C. At its lower end to shaft I14 carries a sprocket wheel I11 driven in a manner to be described and coordinated with rotary movements of parts associated with the gatherer J and the transfer head K. Referring to Fig. 14 the shaft I63 carries a crank pin I connected by clevis I8I and turn buckle I82 and pin I83 with a ratchet lever I84 loosely journalled on a shaft I85. Lever I84 carries a pin I86 pivotally supporting a pawl I81 enga-geable with a ratchet I88 pinned to the shaft I85. To the shaft I there is also pinned a cam I69 engageable with the operating member I90 of a valve I92. It is apparent that after a predetermined number of revolutions of the shaft I63 have taken place, the valve I9I will open for the purpose of causing air to flow through a pipe I92 (Fig. 15) into a cylinder I93 thereby causing a piston I94 to move downwardly against the action of the spring I95 and to cause the red I 96 to move a finger I91 downwardly for the purpose of engaging a hairpin descending along the chute E in order to limit the number of hairpins accumulating at a time upon the chute 60. It is desirable to hold some hairpins in reserve upon the chute E. Obviously the shaft I85 (Fig.14) will rotate once during each'cycle of operations required for the filling of the gatherer with hairpins; therefore the number of teeth on the ratchet I88 will equal the number of hairpins to be assembled in the gatherer. The shape of cam I89 is such that valve operating member I90 is all the way down for about revolution of shaft I85 and member I90 is all the way up for over /2 revolution. During about revolution the member I90 is moving down. Therefore, the hairpins on chute E will be prevented from descending to chute 80 during over A; the cycle during which the gatherer is receiving hairpins from the magazine feed. Figs. 1 and 2 show that the hairpins on chute E are held back while about /4 of the required full number of hairpins are received by th gatherera J. By that time the cam I89 has arrived in the position shown in Fig. 14, wherein its high land is about to leave the member I90. Then the hair pins on chute E will be released and they will slide down upon chute 69. Before the gatherer J has made one complete revolution, the cam I89 will have moved the member I90 down sufficiently to cause valve I9I to open to admit pressure fluid to cylinder I93 to cause finger I91 to move down again to prevent hairpins from sliding from chute E to chute 60. When the gatherer J is filled, it stops rotating and the magazine feed stops; and there is a gap between the lowest hairpin on chute E and the highest hairpin on chute 60. Therefore chute 60 ofmag- H3 engaging the block I04.

azine F can be elevated above chute E after the gatherer J is filled without dislodging any hairpins since there are no hairpins located at the gap between these parts. The foregoing describes the normal operation. However, it might happen that the compressed air line to cylinder I92 might be shut off after the magazineF (Fig. 3) had been elevated above .magazine E. In such case the finger I91 would be lifted and the hairpins on chute E would descend against the upper end of the chute of magazine F as shown in Fig. 3. No harm is done, however, since the hairpins will descend upon the chute of magazine F when it is lowered.

Foreach rotation of shaft I63 there will be a reciprocation of feed bar 91. As stated before, when thebar 91 is down, the lowermost hairpin on the chute 60 engages the slide, the legs H1 and H2 directly engaging the bar 91, and the yoke When the bar 91 is down, the screw I53a carried by the plate 93 will engage the lever 93 to cause its finger 92 to be moved slightly away from the yoke of thehairpin next to the lowest hairpin. When the bar 91 moves upwardly the screw I53a will immediately release the lever 93 so that, by the action of the spring 96, it will engage the yoke of the hairpin next to the lowest hairpin. When the bar 91 and the block I04 have been moved entirely above the hairpin, as shown in Fig. 8, the lowest hairpin is free to move off the block 90 and then down between the block 90 and the plate I I2. It is started in this movement by directing against it a blast of air issuing from two small holes 90a block 90. These holes are connected with a passage 90b and with a passage 900 connected in any suitable manner with a source of compressed air. Just as the bar 91 moves above the lowermost hairpin, the compressed air is admitted'to the passage I05 and then issues from the holes 90a to start a hairpin in its movement toward the plates 99 and H2. Then the hairpin is free to gravitate downwardly. As it moves downwardly the lower ends of tis legs will first be received by grooves 200 in the branches 20I of a notched plate 202 fastened to the pedestal 59. These grooves 200 guide the legs into the notches I 3I provided by the block I20. As shown in Fig. 9, these notches I20 flare out to the top surface of the block as indicated by the surfaces I 3Ia, I3Ib and I3Ic. Thus the legs of the hairpins are guided into the notches I3I. When the bar '91 descends, the cam I0'I carried there-by will engage the lever I09 to cause it to move counterclockwise, thereby causing the bar IN, the rods H6 and the block I20 to move from the left to the right into the position shown in Figs. 10 and 12 thereby retracting the block I20 from the yoke of the supported hairpin thereby permitting the hairpin to gravitate from the magazine into the gatherer as shown in Fig. 4. If for any reason the hairpin does not gravitate from the block 90 it will be forced downwardly during downward movement of the bar 91. As stated be- 'fore, the downward movement of the bar 97 to 'clear the space through which a hairpin should normally gravitate is followed by an elevation of the finger 92 of the lever 93 so that the hairpin last retained by the finger 92 is released so it may gravitate down the block 90 and against the feedbar 91 when in the lower position. Following theupward movement of the bar 9'! the cycle is again repeated as the released hairpin will then be free to gravitate between the block 90 and the plate-I I2 until it hangs upon the'block with an operating shaft.

I20. Then the block I20 is then retracted during downward movement of the bar 91 again so that this hairpin may descend into the gatherer.

Electric eye control of hairpin forming press Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 18, it will be seen that the hairpin forming press HP is provided with a chute 500 down which hairpins H slide with their yoke foremost. As each hairpin is discharged from the lower end of the chute 500 it is engaged'by a pin I3 of conveyor D which discharges hairpins upon the chute E which discharges the hairpins downwardly to the magazine F. Chute E is provided with an opening or window 50I through which rays from a lamp 502 are projected toward a photoelectric cell 503 connected with a line wire 504 and with a relay magnet coil 506 connected with line wire505. A switch 501 controls the connection of lamp 502 with wires 504 and 505. Coil 506 is a part of a relay 5I0 having an armature 5II carrying contacts 5| 2 and 5 I 3 engageable respectively with contacts 5I4 and 5I5. Spring 5I6 .urges armature 5II counterclockwise so that contacts BIZ and 5| 4 are engaged.

A valve controlling solenoid 520 comprises a coil 52I connected with contact 5I4 and with a stationary contact 522 engageable with a, movable contact 523 carried by a spring blade 524 having its fixed end connected by .wire 525 with line wire 504 and having its free end engageable with a bar 526 attached to a solenoid armature 527. A valve controlling solenoid 530 comprising magnet coil 53I connected with contact 5I5 and with a contact 532 engageable with a, contact 533 carried by a spring blade 534 having its fixed end connected by wire 535 with wire 525, and having its free end engageable with a bar 536 carried by a solenoid armature 531.

A fluid pressure controlling valve 540 has an operating rod 54I connected with the solenoid armatures 526 and 536. Valve 546 controls the communication between an inlet pipe 542 and outlet pipes 543 and 544 leading, respectively, to the upper and lower portions of a cylinder 545 cooperating with a piston 546 connected by rod 541 with a bell crank lever 548 pivoted at 549 and connected by rod 550 with a lever 55I for controlling a clutch 552 of the hairpin forming press HP.

When the accumulation-of hairpins on chute E, Fig. 2, is not sufiicient to block the window 502 the light from thelamp .502 will strike thecell 503 and render it electrically conductive so that the coil 506 of the relay 5I0 will be energized. Armature 5II will be attracted to cause contacts 5I3 to engage contacts 5I5 thereby connecting solenoid coil 53I with a current source. Then solenoid armature 531 will be attracted toward the left to cause rod 54I to move toward the left thereby interrupting communication between pipe 552 and pipe 543 and venting the latter and thereby connecting pipe 542 with pipe .544. Then the piston 546 vis elevated to cause clutch lever 54I to move toward the right to cause clutch 552 to connect the press HP Then the hairpin press operates to 'form hairpins .and discharge them down the chute 500.

When the accumulation of-hairpins upon chute E is such that the window 502 vis blocked, the coil 506 of relay 5I0 isdeenergized and spring 5I6 returns armature 5 to the position shown in Fig. 18 thereby rendering-solenoid coil L52I operative to attract the :solenoid armature '52'l toward the right into the position shown thereby moving rod 541 to the right in order to cut off communication between the pipes 542 and 544 and to vent the latter and in order to establish communication between pipes 542 and 543. Then the piston 546 descends into the position shown in Fig. 18, and causes the clutch 552 to disconnect the press HP from the operating shaft.

When the solenoid coil 53l has performed its function of attracting armature 53! toward the left, the circuit of coil 53| is open at contacts 533 and 532 due to the engagement of bar 536 with switch blade 534. Similarly, when coil 52| has performed its function of attracting armature 52'! toward the right the circuit of coil-52l is broken at contacts 522 and 523, as shown in Fig. 18, due to the engagement of bar 526 with switch blade 524. In this way the coils 52l and 53l do not carry current any longer than is necessary for the functioning of the control system.

As stated previously, the conveyor D is operated by motor 8| (Fig. 1). It is not necessary to provide for any automatic control of this motor because the chute E has a capacity sufficient for receiving all of the hairpins which have accumulated upon chute 500 and conveyor D at the time the press HP is caused to stop due to the blocking of the window 50L In addition to the manual control of the circuit of the lamp 502, the Nichols and Fausset application S. N. 376,676, filed January 30, 1941, now Patent No. 2,312,845, granted March 2, 1943, discloses an automatic control coordinated with the means which feeds wire to the hairpin forming press. This automatic control functions in such manner that the lamp 502 will not burn when the supply of wire to the press has been exhausted. Therefore, regardless of whether the window 5! is blocked with hairpins or is open, the press HP will not operate after all of the wire has been unwound from the supply reel.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a machine for assembling hair pin conductors with a slotted core, a magazine having a chute supporting hairpins by their yokes with their legs down, means providing a vertical passage at the lower end of the chute into which the hair pins pass singly from the chute, means provided at the lower end of the vertical passage for catching a hair pin by its yoke when it descends through the vertical passage, the supported hair pin having its legs extending below the vertical passage, a member having a part for engaging the yoke of the hair pin in the vertical passage, means for moving said member so that its part moves part way down the vertical passage to assist the descent of the hair pin toward the yoke-catching means, said yokeengaging part stopping above the yoke-catching means, and means operating during downward movement of said member for retracting the yoke-catching means whereby the hair-pin gravitates freely below the vertical passage.

2. In a machine for assembling hair pin conductors with a slotted core, a magazine having a chute supporting hair pins by their yokes with their legs down, means providing a vertical passage at the lower end of the chute into which the hair pins pass singly from the chute, a vertically movable slide for assisting movement of the lowermost hair pin through the vertical passage whereby the hair pin may be discharged at the bottom, a device at the bottom of the vertical passage for supporting a single hair pin by its yoke with its legs down, a mechanism operated by a cam on the slide for retracting said device from the hairpin yoke during downward movement of the slide, and means for reciprocating the slide.

3. In a machine for assembling hair pin conductors with a slotted core, a magazine having a chute supporting hair pins by their yokes with their legs down, means providing a vertical passage at the lower end of the chute into which the hair pins pass singly from the chute, a Vertically movable slide for assisting movement of :the lowermost hair pins through the vertical passage whereby the hair pins may be discharged at the bottom, a device at the bottom of the vertical passage for supporting a single hair pin by its yoke with its legs down, a mechanism operatedby a cam on the slide for retracting said device from the hair pin yoke during downward movement of the slide, means for retaining the next to the lowest hair pin on the chute whereby only the lowest hair pin on the chute will be permitted to pass into the vertical passage, and means for reciprocating the slide and for retracting said hair pin retaining means when the slide is down.

4. In a machine for assembling hair pin conductors with a slotted core, a magazine having a chute for supporting hair pins with their legs down, a vertical passage through i hich the hair pins descend singly when released from the chute, said passage being provided between the lower end face of the chute and a. plate hinged to a stationary plate, a slide guided by the stationary plate for movement through the vertical passage to assist in the descent of the hair pin, means for releasing hair pins singly from the chute to the passage, a device at the bottom of the passage for catching a hair pin by its yoke, a mechanism mounted on the hinged plate for retracting the hair pin catching device, a cam movable with the slide for operating said mechanism, means for latching the hinged plate in working position, means for latching the hinged plate in non-working position to permit access to the lower end face of the chute, and means for reciprocating the slide.

5. In a machine for assembling hair pin conductors with a slotted armature core, the combination comprising, a storage chute supporting hair pins by their yokes, a feed magazine chute supporting hair pins by their yokes and forming a continuation from the lower end of the storage chute, means for feeding hair pins singly from the feed-magazine chute and causing them to descend legs down therefrom, a frame for supporting the feeding means and feed magazine chute, said frame being vertically movable so as to clear a space below the feeding means with the result that the upper end of the magazine chute is located above the lower end of the storage chute, means for stopping the descent of the hair pin from the storage chute to the magazine chute, and. means coordinated with the feeding means for rendering the hairpin-stopping means operative during a certain consecutive cycle of operation of the feeding means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further characterized by the provision of a conveyor for delivering hair pins. to the storage chute, and

means responsive to accumulation of hair pins on the storage chute for limiting the number of hair pins delivered to the storage chute by the conveyor to the capacity of the storage chute, thereby avoiding the crowding of hair pins against the hair pin stopping means at the storage chute due to attempt to-force'hair pins upon the storage chute in excess of its capacity.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 further characterized by the provision of a continuously moving conveyor, means for causing hair pins to be delivered to the conveyor, and means responsive to accumulation of a certain number of hair pins on the storage chutes for stopping operation of the delivery means, said number being the capacity of the storage chute less the number of hair pins on the conveyor between the delivery means.

8. In a machine for assembling hair pin conductors with a slotted armature core, the combination comprising, a chute for supporting hair pins by their yokes, means for feeding hair pins singly from the chute, a finger for stopping the descent of hair pins toward the feeding means, means coordinated with the feeding means and rendered operative, during certain consecutive cycles ofoperations thereof, for urging the. hair 3o pin stopping finger against the chute, means for retracting the finger from the chute, a conveyor for delivering hair pins to the chute, and means responsive to the accumulation of hair pins on the chute for limiting the number of hair pins delivered by the conveyor to the capacity off the chute, thereby avoiding the crowding of hair pins' against the hair pin stopping finger at the chute due to attempt to force hair pins upon the chute in excess of its capacity.

9; Ina machine for assembling hair pin conductors with a slotted armature core, the combination comprising, a, chute for supporting hair pins by their yokes, means for feeding hair pins singly from the chute, a finger for stopping the descent of hair pins toward' the feeding means,

means coordinated with the feeding means and rendered operative, during certain consecutive cycles of operations thereof, for urging the hair pin stopping finger'against the chute, means for retracting the finger [from the chute, a continuously moving conveyor, means for causing hair pins to be delivered to the conveyor, and means responsive to accumulation of a certain number of hair pins on the chute for the stopping operation of the delivery means, said number being the capacity of the chute less the number of hair pins on the conveyor.

LORA E. POOLE.

ERNEST R. FAUSSET. 

